Elvis Costello’s previous record Momofuku as well as this newest effort were written, recorded and released in a rather quick fashion. Costello opts to wear his folk-roots-country hat this time around; the results aren’t always up to snuff though.

The overall feeling of the record is loose and enjoyable. It starts off promisingly with Down Among The Wine and Spirits and has a few other fine moments including I Dreamed Of My Old Lover, She Handed Me A Mirror and How Deep Is The Red. It is on tracks like My Old Time Doll and Hidden Shame that struck me as serving little purpose aside from being album filler.

Costello’s last few records have been excellent through and through so I have no problem affording him some slack on this newest one. The not-so-great songs aren’t all together awful they just don’t quite measure up to what fans might expect.